Varaha Purana 176.87 — Adhyaya 176, Shloka 87

The Māhātmya of Kṛṣṇagaṅgodbhava, Kāliñjara, and the Five Sacred Baths: The Tale of Pāñcāla and Tilottamā

Devanagari script

दुर्भिक्षपीडिते राष्ट्रे गतौ तौ दक्षिणापथम् ॥ नर्मदादक्षिणे कूले ब्राह्मणानां पुरोत्तमे ॥

Transliteration

durbhikṣapīḍite rāṣṭre gatau tau dakṣiṇāpatham || narmadādakṣiṇe kūle brāhmaṇānāṁ purottame ||

Translation

Ketika negeri ditimpa kebuluran, kedua-duanya menempuh jalan Selatan (Dakṣiṇāpatha). Mereka sampai ke tebing selatan Sungai Narmadā, di sebuah penempatan Brahmana yang utama.

Word by Word

• दुर्भिक्षपीडिते: in the kingdom afflicted by famine
• दुर्भिक्षपीडिते: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष + पीडित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दुर्भिक्षेण पीडितम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; राष्ट्रे इति विशेषणम्

• राष्ट्रे: in the kingdom
• राष्ट्रे: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गतौ: having gone
• गतौ: कर्ता (कर्ता-समूहः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गतम्/गत (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; तौ इति विशेषणम् (past participle used adjectivally)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (subject: the two)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• दक्षिणापथम्: to the southern route/region (Dakṣiṇāpatha)
• दक्षिणापथम्: कर्म (destination/object of going)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दक्षिणायाः पथः/दक्षिणदेशस्य पथः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गमनस्य कर्म (destination)

• नर्मदा: of the Narmadā (river)
• नर्मदा: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दक्षिणे इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः (नर्मदायाः)

• दक्षिणे: on the southern
• दक्षिणे: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कूले इति विशेषणम्

• कूले: on the bank
• कूले: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुरोत्तमे: in the best of towns/cities
• पुरोत्तमे: अधिकरण (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुरेषु उत्तमम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणवाचक

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"None","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"dharma-in-crisis","core_concept":"In times of scarcity, dharmic agents relocate to sustaining sacred geographies and learned communities to preserve life and order.","practical_application":"During calamity, seek support in dharmic networks (sat-saṅga, learned communities) and sacred rivers; prioritize protection of life while maintaining conduct."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Geography","History","Heritage Sites"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuṇa

Secondary Rasa: śānta

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank/settlement (agrahāra-like brāhmaṇa-pura)

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa adhyāya 176 narrative of travel and encounter

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two travelers journey south during famine, arriving at the Narmadā’s southern bank near a prominent Brahmin settlement.","item_prompts":["parched landscape संकेत of famine","two travelers with minimal belongings","broad Narmadā river","riverbank huts/agrahāra","Brahmins in white garments"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Narrative panel: drought-toned foreground transitioning to lush Narmadā bank; stylized Brahmin settlement; rhythmic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Gold-accented river and temple-like settlement; travelers depicted smaller, emphasizing sacred river’s grandeur.","mysore_prompt":"Naturalistic riverbank with classical figures; restrained emotion; emphasis on journey and arrival.","pahari_prompt":"Layered hills and river valley; delicate architecture of settlement; travelers on a winding path."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative, sober","suggested_raga":"Ārabhi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"storytelling, steady"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Ancient Geography
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Cultural Heritage

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a narrative memory of famine-driven mobility and references Dakṣiṇāpatha, aiding research into how Purāṇas map social movement onto Indian geography.

Which geographic location is identified?

Narmadā river and Dakṣiṇāpatha are explicitly mentioned; the ‘foremost Brahmin settlement’ is not named here but indicates a recognized regional center.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Indirectly, it frames resilience and relocation amid hardship; the verse is mainly descriptive rather than prescriptive.